Area of Emphasis: Justice Studies

To receive an emphasis in Justice Studies, the student must complete 12 credit hours from the department of Justice Studies. A sample of courses might include but are not limited to:

JUS 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice (3) This 3-hour course is a survey of the management and control of crime and criminal offenders through the criminal justice systems.

JUS 200: Criminology (3) This 3-hour course involves a survey of the causes and effects of criminality and of the means taken to cope with criminal behavior. Emphasis on the social context of crime, with special attention given to economic and political factors. Prerequisites: JUS 101

JUS 225: Justice in the Information Age (3) This 3-hour course is designed to familiarize the student with information age technologies that influence the justice system. The course will focus on the management of those technologies, specifically in the area of information networking. Emphasis will be placed on providing students with a working knowledge of how information age technologies will condition their future role and responsibilities as justice system employees. Prerequisites: JUS 101

JUS 250: Administration of Justice Systems (3) This 3-hour course provides an analysis of administrative theory and practice as it relates to justice agencies. Emphasis will be placed on organization and function. Law enforcement, corrections, and the courts will be viewed both from a systems approach, as well as individual components of the larger justice system. Prerequisites: JUS 101 or permission

JUS 300: Criminal Justice Research (3) This 3-hour course is meant to provide the justice studies student with an introductory level of understanding of criminal justice research methods and the latest criminal justice research. Prerequisites: JUS 101, JUS 200

JUS 320: Police Systems and Practices (3) This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the people, systems, practices, and problems of the law enforcement community in the United States. American law enforcement communities are the most visible representatives of our system of criminal justice. Students are provided with a basic understanding of the entire law enforcement occupation, which includes law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels and are further provided an in-depth examination of the art of police work and the difficulties and problems officers face as they go about their complex duties. Further analysis includes the discussion of management, police-community relations, contemporary problems and an examination of the history and future of law enforcement. Prerequisites: JUS 101, JUS 200

JUS 331: Criminal Law (3) This 3-hour course provides an examination of criminal law and procedure with an emphasis on history, classification, problematic systems elements, and the practice of criminal defense and prosecution. The course also presents an analysis of procedures related to due process and other constitutional guarantees. Prerequisites: JUS 101, JUS 200

JUS 365: Juvenile Delinquency (3) This 3-hour course provides a survey of approaches, both theoretical and applied, to juvenile delinquency. Special emphasis given to causes and effects of delinquency. Practical components include the examination of criminal justice systems and the related careers available in the juvenile delinquency field. Prerequisites: JUS 101, JUS 200